Start to Finish Woody Allen and the Art of Moviemaking

In this fascinating insight into the artistic process, longtime Woody Allen biographer Eric Lax follows the legendary director through the making of a movie—from start to finish. Charting the production of Allen’s forty-sixth directorial feature, Irrational Man—starring Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone—from inception to premier, Lax takes us onto the set and behind the scenes, revealing the intimate details of Allen’s filmmaking. We see the screenplay being shaped, the scenes being prepared, and the actors, cinematographers, editors, and other participants at work. We hear Allen’s colleagues speak candidly about working with him, and Allen speaking with equal openness about his career. An unprecedented insight into one of the foremost filmmakers of our time, Start to Finish is sure to delight not only movie buffs and Allen fans, but everyone who has marveled at the magic of the movies.

Eric Lax’s books include Woody Allen: A Biography, an international best seller and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; Bogart (with A. M. Sperber); and Conversations with Woody Allen. Lax has written for The Atlantic, Esquire, the Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times Magazine. He lives in Los Angeles.